The loud motorcycles with chrome-dipped exhaust pipes, lots of fibreglass and rumbling engines have been associated with youthful rebellion. But as more Kenyans take up biking, how safe are they?
Moses Nderitu, 43, a board member at the National Transport Safety Authority rides an impressive BMW F1200GSA. This is his seventh motorbike and he does not take biking as a trend, but as a reaction to the failure of public transport.
He says motorcycle riders compared to car drivers bear the brunt of high-risk road injuries because of their nature of exposure, hence the aggressive push for safe riding and wearing of protective gear.
“If a rider belonging to our association {bikers club} is not wearing safety gear while riding and a colleague spots them, he would be sidelined as punishment and the rest of the crew won’t be riding with him. Only bikers know how this feels,” says Moses who is also the founder and CEO of Excloosive, a portable toilet supplier.
The bikers’ club also calls out rouge riders on all social media platforms and during their meetings thus serving as a caution and reminder for bikers to always be safe.
Last year alone, the private riders’ community lost about six members in road accidents which were mainly hit-and-run.
“Drivers don’t just see riders, they ignore our presence on the road,” he says. “Most of the time, car drivers who cause these accidents are just mean on the road, sometimes we tend to think that they are just jealous seeing us manoeuvring on the road while they are stuck in traffic and can’t do anything about it,” he says.
Traffic rules
The bikers’ club is like a close-knit family. Behind the dark helmets, there is always a rider warming up to a fellow rider. They will always greet or wave at fellow riders, regardless, Moses says.
“I have ridden in Europe, South Africa and the feeling is mutual. We can have random conversations for the rest of the week with fellow bikers who are acquaintances. You will never find a better brotherhood or sisterhood than in the motorbike industry,” he says. But as biking gains popularity, there are those who pick it up to look chic or be the ‘cool guy on the bike’, but for others, it is now a lifestyle.
For instance, Moses has always wanted to be on a bike. A super bike for that matter.
When he started riding eight years ago, he wanted to evade the Nairobi traffic jam.
“Now I ride for fun, leisure and to clear my mind. Biking has become a lifestyle and quite a functional option for me. I ride more than I drive,” he says.
He adds that just like picking up a raincoat, he only cares to drive when he has no choice. Otherwise, he says he would “die” on his bike.
But before you hit the road, invest in a European Union or African Union-certified helmet, jacket or biking uniform with reflectors, gloves and protective knee pads. The Bikers Garage at Warwick Centre in Gigiri is among the many retailers selling riding gear.
The NTSA official says Nairobi has its biking rules that must be followed. Motorbikes are supposed to be ridden on the road and not on the bicycle paths. All rules that apply to vehicle drivers on the road apply to motorbike riders, no matter which category.
Most riders, however, tend to violate riding rules and imagine themselves to be from a special breed, Moses says.
According to NTSA, riders just like any other road users are supposed to obey traffic lights and stop when instructed to. Overtaking on the wrong side is also a violation of the law.
For bikers, concentration is key.
If you are a biker and you are not in the right frame of mind, do not ignite that bike. Even if it itches to, he advises. If, for instance, you have had a fight with your spouse, the last thing you would want to do is to get on that bike while still angry.
“You never get a second chance, the bike could cost you your life,” Moses says.
